Wilson Sporting Goods Co. and long-time Wilson Advisory Staff Member and tennis icon Roger Federer, unveiled a co-designed Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph racket— the result of an 18-month collaborative process between Federer and Wilson Labs.
Together with Roger Federer, Wilson sought to radically change the current design standards in performance tennis rackets.
“Nearly two years ago, we set out to change the design DNA of our performance tennis rackets and elevate design to an equal level of appreciation as technology,” said Hans-Martin Reh, General Manager, Wilson Racquet Sports. “In that process, we deconstructed today’s racket and reimagined every element from the inside out. With Roger’s help and insight, we removed unnecessary components and meticulously created a new look and feel for tennis rackets not seen before in the industry.”
“To be involved with any design process with a brand is exciting, however, with Wilson, it is extra special because I’ve played with a Wilson racket my whole life,” said Federer. “I remember going to the shops as a kid and pointing to the Wilson rackets, hoping my dad would buy one for me. And now, I’ve been able to help design my racket to look and feel like me. This racket is truly special, and I hope it inspires every player who holds it in his or her hands.”
The rackets unique finishes and paint have not been previously used in the tennis industry, according to Wilson, while hallmark technology features of the new 2017 Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph are similar to Roger Federer’s previous racket, including a wider racket beam providing a significant boost in power and larger headsize than on previous generations of the racket, which produce a larger sweet spot.
Photo courtesy Wilson Sporting Goods
